Combined kilt and shorts garment

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a garment that is made up from a pair of shorts and an outer layer. The pair of shorts has a shorts upper end, a shorts lower end, a front face, a rear face, a first side and a second side. The outer layer covers substantially all of the pair of shorts. The outer layer has a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer layer upper end and an outer layer lower end. The outer layer extends in order from the first side of the pair of shorts around the rear face of the pair of shorts, around the second side of the pair of shorts and around substantially all of the front face of the pair of shorts. A rear part of the outer layer upper end is attached to the shorts upper end along substantially all of the rear face of the pair of shorts. Means are included for fastening the outer layer to the front face of the shorts. The garment may be used as a school uniform. The outer layer may be made to resemble a kilt.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a garment and more specifically a garment to be worn on the lower torso.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the past numerous designs have been proposed for a garment that includes a pair of shorts, but that appears, at least from some angles, to be a skirt. Some of these garments include panels that extend across the crotch portion of the shorts in the front and the back to hide the crotch portion from view. The pair of shorts remains otherwise exposed on the sides. From many angles, however, such designs do not appear to be a skirt. Furthermore, such designs are typically not adjustable to accommodate wearer having different waist or hip measurements. For example, the fashion industry now recognizes a “skort” as a type of garment. The word “skort” is derived from “skirt” and “shorts”, and as the name suggests, it is a combined garment, that commonly has a pair of shorts with a front panel which, at least from the front, gives the appearance of a skirt.

[0003] A separate problem is that such designs do not readily lend themselves to use as school uniforms, which represents a potential market for garments of this nature. School uniforms typically include a skirt based on a conventional kilt. A problem faced by many schools and by parents of daughters who wear school uniforms, is that schoolgirls sometimes shorten the skirts to a height that is undesirable to either or both of the school or their parents. By shortening the skirts, the schoolgirls increase the risk of exposing portions of their bodies or their undergarments while performing activities such as walking or bending.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a garment that is made up from a pair of shorts and an outer layer. The pair of shorts has a shorts upper end, a shorts lower end, a front face, a rear face, a first side and a second side. The outer layer covers substantially all of the pair of shorts. The outer layer has a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer layer upper end and an outer layer lower end. The outer layer extends in order from the first side of the pair of shorts around the rear face of the pair of shorts, around the second side of the pair of shorts and around substantially all of the front face of the pair of shorts. A rear part of the outer layer upper end is attached to the shorts upper end along substantially all of the rear face of the pair of shorts. Means are included for fastening the outer layer to the front face of the shorts.

[0005] In a second aspect the invention is directed to a school uniform made up of the garment described above.

[0006] In a third aspect, the invention is directed to a school uniform, including a pair of shorts and an outer layer attached to the pair of shorts. The outer layer covers substantially all of the pair of shorts. The outer layer is a kilt.

[0007] In a fourth aspect, the invention is directed to a garment that is made up from a pair of shorts, an outer layer and a waistband. The pair of shorts has a shorts upper end, a shorts lower end, a front face, a rear face, a first side and a second side. The outer layer covers substantially all of the pair of shorts. The outer layer has a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer layer upper end and an outer layer lower end. The outer layer extends in order from the first side of the pair of shorts around the rear face of the pair of shorts, around the second side of the pair of shorts and around substantially all of the front face of the pair of shorts. A rear part of the outer layer upper end is attached to the shorts upper end along substantially all of the rear face of the pair of shorts. The waistband is connected to the upper end of the pair of shorts and the outer layer upper end. The waistband is a continuous strip having, in order, a first front portion, a rear portion, and a second front portion. The shorts upper end is attached to the first front portion and the rear portion, and wherein the outer layer upper end is attached to the rear portion and the second front portion. Means are included for fastening the outer layer to the front face of the shorts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a garment in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view, from the front and above, of a pair of shorts that make up an inner portion of the garment shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 2a is a top plan view of the pair of shorts shown in FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view, from the front and above, of an outer layer of the garment shown in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front, perspective view of a waistband portion of the garment shown in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view from underneath and to one side of the garment shown in FIG. 1, with a portion cut away for greater clarity; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the garment shown in FIG. 1, along section line 6-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows a garment 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The garment 10 is for wear by a person on their lower torso. The garment 10 may for example be used as part of a school uniform. The garment 10 may be worn by both males and females. However, if it is used as a school uniform, it is contemplated that it will be typically be worn by females.

[0017] The garment 10 is made up of a pair of shorts 12 which are more clearly shown in FIG. 2, and an outer layer 14. The pair of shorts 12 and the outer layer 14 are both attached to a waistband 15.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the pair of shorts 12 has an upper end 16, in which there is an opening for the torso of the wearer, and a lower end 17, in which there are two leg openings for the legs of the wearer. The pair of shorts 12 also has a front face 18 and a rear face 20 (FIG. 2a). The front face 18 is made up of a pair of front pieces of material 22. Similarly, the rear face 20 is made up of a pair of rear pieces of material 24. The front and rear pieces of material 18 and 20 are joined together by any joining means known in the art, such as by sewing. Seams between the pieces of material 22 and 24 are shown at 26, 28, 30, 32 (see FIG. 2a), 33 and 34. The first seam 26 extends generally vertically between the upper end 16 and the lower end 17, down a first side, which is shown at 36 to join one of the front pieces of material 22 and one of the rear pieces of material 24 together. The seams 28 and 30 are the inseams of the leg portions of the pair of shorts 12. The front seam 32 extends between the inseams 28 and 30 to the upper end 16 to join the front pieces of material 22. Similarly, the rear seam 33 extends between the inseams 28 and 30 to the upper end 16 to join the rear pieces of material 24.

[0019] The seam 34 extends generally vertically on a second side 37 of the pair of shorts 12, opposite the first side 36. The seam 34 extends between the lower end 17 and a separation in the pair of shorts 12, which is shown at 38.

[0020] The separation 38 may perform at least one of several functions. The separation 38 facilitates donning of the garment 10 by facilitating the passage of a wearer's hips through the opening at the upper end 16. The separation 38 can thus enable the garment 10 to be worn by several wearers having a range of measurements in the waist or hips.

[0021] The separation 38 extends from the upper end 16 generally vertically towards the lower end 17. The separation 38 may be positioned at any point about the perimeter of the pair of shorts 12, such as, for example, on the second side 37.

[0022] The separation 38 may be generally V-shaped and may be defined by a first separation edge 40 and a second separation edge 42. The first and second separation edges 40 and 42 meet at an intersection 44. The intersection 44 is the bottom end of the separation 38 and is also an end point for the seam 34. The separation 38 is described further below.

[0023] It will be understood that any configuration of the separation 38 that permits the size of the waist to be adjusted could be used. For example, the separation may be generally U-shaped instead of being V-shaped. The U-shape have a curved bottom portion between the first and second separation edges, or may alternatively have a generally flat bottom portion which joins the first and second separation edges at right angles.

[0024] The material used for making the pair of shorts 12 may have a tartan pattern thereon, a check pattern thereon, or any other type of pattern thereon, or alternatively no pattern thereon. The pair of shorts 12 is substantially covered by the outer layer 14, and as a result, it has a relatively smaller impact on the visual impression given by the garment 10, than the outer layer 14. Since only a small portion of the pair of shorts 12 may be visible to an onlooker (see FIG. 1), it is alternatively possible for only a visible portion of the pair of shorts 12 to have a pattern thereon that matches the outer layer 14.

[0025] It is also possible for the shorts portion to have a solid colour corresponding to the background colour of a pattern on the outer layer 14. This is particularly applicable where there is a small degree of contrast between a background colour and an applied pattern. Further, it is not necessary for the shorts 12 and the outer layer 14 to be formed of the same material, although this will usually be preferred when they have the same pattern.

[0026] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which shows the outer layer 14 separately. The outer layer 14 covers substantially all of the pair of shorts 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). The outer layer 14 is made from a piece of any suitable material, such as a fabric with a tartan pattern thereon to resemble a kilt. The outer layer may alternatively have any selected check pattern, any other desired pattern or design, or alternatively no pattern.

[0027] The outer layer 14 has an upper end 52, a lower end 54, a first side edge 56 and a second side edge 58. In accordance with conventional kilt design, the second edge 58 has fringes thereon. The outer layer 14 includes a rear portion 60 that covers the rear face 20 of the pair of shorts 12 (see FIG. 6). Similarly, the outer layer 14 has a front portion 62 that covers the front face 18 of the pair of shorts 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). The outer layer 14 has pleats 63 that extend vertically between the upper and lower ends 52 and 54 along some or all of its length. For example, following conventional kilt designs, the entire rear portion 60 has pleats 63, so as to resemble a kilt.

[0028] The waistband 15 is used to join together the pair of shorts 12 and the outer layer 14. The waistband 15 is made from a continuous strip of material, as shown. The waistband 15 may be considered to comprise a first front portion 64, a second front portion 66 and a rear portion 68. Referring to FIG. 6, the first front portion 64 attaches to the upper end 16 of the front face 18 of the pair of shorts 12, starting at the first separation edge 40. The waistband 15 further extends around to the rear face 20 of the pair of shorts 12, so that the rear portion 68 of the waistband 15 is attached to the upper end 16 of the rear face 20 of the pair of shorts 12. The attachment of the waistband 15 to the pair of shorts 12 continues to the second separation edge 42, so that the entirety of the upper end 16 of the pair of shorts 12 is attached to the waistband 15.

[0029] The rear portion 68 of the waistband 15 is also attached to a rear part of the upper end 52 of the outer layer 14 associated with the rear portion 60, thereby joining the upper ends 16 and 52 of the pair of shorts 12 and the outer layer 14 to each other. The second front portion 66 of the waistband 15 is attached to a front part of the upper end 52 of the outer layer 14 associated with the front portion 62, so that the entirety of the upper end 52 of the outer layer 14 is attached to the waistband 15.

[0030] The material, from which the waistband 15 is made, preferably has the same pattern thereon as is on the outer layer 14, since the waistband 15 is visible to onlookers when the garment 10 is worn. Alternatively, however, the waistband 15 may have another pattern or design thereon, or may have no pattern.

[0031] It will be understood that the shorts portion 12 and the outer layer 14 could have, in effect, separate waist bands and would only be joined along the tops of their waistbands.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a first fastener 46 is positioned on the waistband 15, to connect between the separation edges 40 and 42 of the pair of shorts 12, so that the size of the separation 38 may be controlled to suit the wearer. The first fastener 46 may be any suitable type of fastener, and preferably adjustable in length. For example, to follow traditional kilt designs, the first fastener 46 may include a strap 48 and a buckle 50. The strap 48 is secured at the end of the waistband 15 at the first separation edge 40. The buckle 50 is secured on the waistband 15 proximate where the waistband 15 departs from the second separation edge 42. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the waistband 15 includes an aperture 70 to permit the strap 48 to pass through to connect to the buckle 50.

[0033] The strap 48 and buckle 50 may join together in any suitable way to restrict the size of the separation 38. For example, in known manner, the strap 48 may have one or more holes along its length and the buckle 50 may include a prong for engaging a selected hole in the strap 48.

[0034] By providing the separation 38 and the fastener 46, several advantages are achieved. For example, donning of the garment 10 is facilitated, and more particularly the passing of the wearer's hips through the upper end 16 of the garment 10 is facilitated. Furthermore, the first fastener 46 permits the garment 10 to closely fit the waist of the wearer, while the rest of the garment 10 can be made large enough to fit about the wearer's hips, which may be larger than the waist. Furthermore, adjustability in the length of the first fastener 46 enables the garment 10 to fit a greater range of wearers than fixed size garments of the prior art, or then would be possible if the garment 10 had a fixed-length fastener, such as a zipper. This adjustability, in turn, permits fewer different sizes of garment 10 to be manufactured to handle the overall population in the target market of wearers, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs.

[0035] It is optionally possible for the separation 38 to incorporate a zipper (not shown) for joining the first and second separation edges 40 and 42. Such a configuration would retain the convenience for a user to put on the garment 10, but would not provide adjustability to the garment 10, and is believed for most purposes to be unnecessary.

[0036] Where the garment is intended for use by girls as part of a school uniform, an adjustable fastener has the added advantage of providing for growth of child. Thus, the garment could be worn for some time, before the child outgrows it and a larger garment has to be purchased.

[0037] Furthermore, the adjustability permits the garment to accommodate some increase or decrease in its owner's waist or hip size over the life of the garment, so that its owner can adjust the garment relatively simply, instead of having to purchase a new one, or having to rip and resew a seam to provide a new waist or hip size.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, the first side edge 56 of the outer layer 14 attaches along the first seam 26 to the pair of shorts 12, thereby forming a three way seam. Referring to FIG. 1, a second fastener 72 connects the second side edge 58 of the outer layer 14 to the pair of shorts 12. Like the first fastener, the second fastener 72 is preferably adjustable in length and may include a strap 74 with one or more holes along its length, and a buckle 76 with a prong, similar to the strap 48 and the buckle 50. The strap 74 is attached to the end of the waistband 15 at the second side edge 58 of the outer layer 14. The buckle 76 is then attached to the waistband 15 proximate where the waistband 15 transitions from the first front portion 64 to the rear portion 68. The strap 74 and the buckle 76 cooperate to provide adjustability in the length of the fastener 72. This permits the two portions 74 and 76 of the fastener 68 to connect to each other, regardless of the adjustment made to the first fastener 46.

[0039] A third fastener 78, which may be, for example, an ornamental safety pin, may be used to attach the second side edge 58 of the outer layer 14 to the pair of shorts 12 at some intermediate point along the second side edge 58.

[0040] By providing a kilt with a pair of shorts underneath, the wearer is protected from inadvertently exposing portions of his or her body that the wearer would not otherwise wish to expose. Furthermore, a wearer is protected regardless of the height of the outer layer 14 and the pair of shorts 12. Thus, if the wearer shortens the pair of shorts 12 and the outer layer 14, he or she remains protected from inadvertent exposure.

[0041] It is, of course, also true that the garment 10 protects the wearer from exposure in the instance where the garment 10 is a school uniform and the wearer is a schoolgirl. This is particularly advantageous in this instance, however, since it is common for schoolgirls to shorten their school uniforms to the point where inadvertent exposure would be a risk, but for the presence of the pair of shorts 12. In this way, the presence of the pair of shorts assists in the wearer complying with the dress standards and moral standards enforced by the school or other institution.

[0042] The first and second fasteners 46 and 72 have been described as incorporating a buckle and strap, however other types of fastener may alternatively be used. For example, the buckle and strap may be replaced by a plurality of buttons and a strap with a buttonhole. For example, the buckle 48 would be replaced by buttons arranged in a row on the portion of waistband 15 leading up to the first separation edge 40. The strap 50 would be replaced by a strap with a buttonhole thereon attached to the waistband 15 proximate the second separation edge 42. The buttons and strap could provide similar adjustability to the garment 10 as is obtained with the buckle and strap. It is also alternatively possible to have a fastener made up of a single button on the waistband 15, and a strap with a plurality of buttonholes thereon arranged in a row to provide adjustability. It is, of course, alternatively possible to have a single button and a strap with a single buttonhole, where adjustability is not required, or is achieved by some other means.

[0043] It has been described to provide adjustability to the garment 10 by the provision of the separation 38 and the first and second fasteners 46 and 72. It is alternatively possible to provide adjustability by other means. For example, the pair of shorts 12 may be made, in whole or in part, from an elastic material, such as Spandex™. The outer layer 14 is not required to be made from the same material as the pair of shorts 12 and may thus be made from a material more traditionally used for kilts, school uniforms and the like.

[0044] As another alternative to provide adjustability, instead of the fasteners 46 and 72, the waistband 15 may be made from an elastic material. Such a waistband may extend across the separation 38 joining the first and second separation edges 40 and 42. Such a waistband 15 could be used in an embodiment wherein the fasteners are of fixed length to maintain some level of adjustability in the garment 10. The waistband 15 may be elastic along its entire length, or may alternatively include elastic portions, for example, along the sides or at the back where they will be less visible to others so as to reduce any aesthetic impact on the garment 10. The provision of one or more elastic portions in the waist band is expected to be particularly advantageous for small sizes of the garment intended for younger girls; older girls naturally have more pronounced hips and hence the garment will fit well and be properly supported even if not an exact fit, but for younger girls it is often desirable to have a closer fit to ensure the garment is adequately supported.

[0045] In the embodiments described above, the outer layer 14 has been described as having features, such as pleats 63 and a tartan pattern to enhance its resemblance to a kilt. It will be understood that such features are optional, and that it is contemplated that the outer layer 14 may be without one or more of these features. For example, the outer layer 14 may be provided without pleats.

[0046] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims. 

1. A garment comprising: a pair of shorts having a shorts upper end, a shorts lower end, a front face, a rear face, a first side and a second side; an outer layer for covering substantially all of said pair of shorts, said outer layer having a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer layer upper end and an outer layer lower end, said outer layer extending in order from said first side of said pair of shorts around said rear face of said pair of shorts, around said second side of said pair of shorts and around substantially all said front face of said pair of shorts, and wherein a rear part of said outer layer upper end is attached to said shorts upper end along substantially all of said rear face of said pair of shorts; and means for fastening the outer layer to the front face of the shorts.
 2. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein substantially all of said first side edge of said outer layer is attached to said pair of shorts.
 3. A garment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pair of shorts has a seam along said first side, and said first side edge of said outer layer is attached to said pair of shorts along said seam.
 4. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer includes a rear portion, with said rear part of said outer layer upper end associated therewith, and wherein said rear portion includes a plurality of pleats extending between said outer layer lower end and said rear part of said outer layer upper end.
 5. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer has a check pattern thereon.
 6. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer has a tartan pattern thereon.
 7. A garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separation extends generally vertically from said shorts upper end towards said shorts lower end, and a first fastener is secured to the garment on both sides of the separation.
 8. A garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first fastener is adjustable in length.
 9. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first fastener includes a strap and a buckle for receiving said strap.
 10. A garment as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first fastener includes a strap and a buckle for receiving said strap.
 11. A garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for fastening comprises a second fastener, wherein said second fastener is adjustable in length.
 12. A garment as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second fastener includes a strap and a buckle for receiving said strap.
 13. A garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a waistband connected to said shorts upper end and said outer layer upper end.
 14. A garment as claimed in claim 13, wherein said waistband is a continuous strip having, in order, a first front portion, a rear portion, and a second front portion, wherein said shorts upper end is attached to said first front portion and said rear portion, and wherein said outer layer upper end is attached to said rear portion and said second front portion.
 15. A garment as claimed in claim 14, wherein a separation extends generally vertical from said shorts upper end towards said shorts lower end, the separation being provided adjacent the free end of the first front portion of the waistband, and wherein a first fastener is provided secured to the first front portion of the waistband on the one side of the separation and secured to the waistband on the other side of the separation.
 16. A garment as claimed in claim 15, which includes a second fastener secured to the second front portion of the waistband adjacent the second side edge of the outer layer and to the waistband adjacent a transition between the first front and rear portions thereof.
 17. A garment as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of the first and second fasteners is adjustable, to permit the size of the waistband to be adjusted.
 18. A garment as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the fasteners comprises a buckle and a strap, wherein for the first fastener, the waistband includes an aperture to permit passage of the strap therethrough.
 19. A garment as claimed in claim 18, wherein for the first fastener, the strap is secured to the first front portion of the waistband and the buckle is attached to the waistband proximate a transition between the rear portion and the second front portion of the waistband, and wherein, for the second fastener, the strap is secured to the second front portion of the waistband adjacent the second side edge of the outer layer and the buckle is secured to the waistband proximate the transition between the first front portion and the rear portion thereof.
 20. A garment as claimed in claim 19, wherein said outer layer includes a rear portion, with said rear part of said outer layer upper end associated therewith, wherein said rear portion includes a plurality of pleats, and wherein an additional detachable fastener is provided for fastening the outer layer to the pair of shorts, adjacent the second side edge thereof, at a location spaced from the waistband.
 21. A school uniform comprising: a pair of shorts; and an outer layer that is attached to said pair of shorts, wherein said outer layer covers substantially all of said pair of shorts, and wherein said outer layer is a kilt.
 22. A school uniform as claimed in claim 15, wherein said outer layer has a rear portion and has vertically extending pleats along substantially of said rear portion and wherein said outer layer has at least one of a check pattern and a tartan pattern.
 23. A garment comprising: a pair of shorts having a shorts upper end, a shorts lower end, a front face, a rear face, a first side and a second side; an outer layer for covering substantially all of said pair of shorts, said outer layer having a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer layer upper end and an outer layer lower end, said outer layer extending in order from said first side of said pair of shorts around said rear face of said pair of shorts, around said second side of said pair of shorts and around substantially all said front face of said pair of shorts, and wherein a rear part of said outer layer upper end is attached to said shorts upper end along substantially all of said rear face of said pair of shorts; a waistband, wherein said waistband is connected to the upper end of said pair of shorts and said outer layer upper end, wherein said waistband is a continuous strip having, in order, a first front portion, a rear portion, and a second front portion, wherein said shorts upper end is attached to said first front portion and said rear portion, and wherein said outer layer upper end is attached to said rear portion and said second front portion; and means for fastening the outer layer to the front face of the pair of shorts.
 24. A garment comprising: a pair of shorts having a waistband; an outer layer, for covering substantially all of said pair of shorts, and having at least one portion secured to the waistband of the pair of shorts and at least one other portion that is separate from and adjustable relative to the waistband; and a means for fastening said other portion to the waistband, to adjust the effective size of the waistband.
 25. A garment as claimed in claim 24, wherein said one portion comprises a rear portion of the outer layer covering a rear of the pair of shorts and said other portion comprises a front portion of the outer layer for covering the front of the pair of shorts.
 26. A garment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the waistband of the pair of shorts comprises a first, front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the front portion of the outer layer includes a front waistband portion, extending from the rear portion of the waistband. 